Green Broomweed Looper - Hodges#6420
Narraga fimetaria
This record describes Narraga fimetaria (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Grote & Robinson (1870) original description as Fidonia fimetaria is available online. ( 3 ) Adults are often mistaken for butterflies because they visit flowers during the day and hold their wings vertically over their back, displaying the brightly-patterned underside of the hindwing; the feathery antennae distinguishes them from butterflies. Upperside of wings light to medium brown with pale yellowish patches along the costa of forewing; fringe checkered dark brown and white. Specimen determined by DNA analysis (BOLD). ( 5 )
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Geometroidea
- Family
- Geometridae (Geometrid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Ennominae
- Tribe
- Macariini
- Genus
- Narraga
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Dry shrublands, sparsely-vegetated sandy areas.
Geographic Range
Texas and Oklahoma to California, strays north to southern Alberta and Saskatchewan - Map ( 6 ) , Quite common in south and southwest Texas. ( 7 )
Seasonal Activity
Adults fly from May to August in the north, or as early as March in the south.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Prairie broomweed ( Amphiachyris dracunculoides ) has been recorded as a host in Texas. McFarland found them on threadleaf snakeweed ( Gutierrezia microcephala ) in the Mojave Desert. ( 4 )
Life History
One or two generations per year. Eggs laid in ropelike rows. ( 4 )
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Narraga fimetaria. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Lepidoptera includes approximately 180,000 described species of butterflies and moths. Moths outnumber butterflies roughly 10:1. The monarch butterfly's eastern population has declined by more than 80% since the mid-1990s, and the western population by over 95% since the 1980s. The IUCN lists the migratory monarch as Vulnerable.
Ecological role of the group
Butterflies and moths are essential indicators of ecosystem health. As caterpillars, they are a primary food source for birds - a single nest of blue tit chicks requires ~10,000 caterpillars. Adult moths pollinate many night-blooming plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Lepidoptera are critical pollinators. In Europe, grassland butterfly species have declined by almost 50% since the early 1990s. In the UK, three-quarters of butterflies are in decline. In the U.S., five butterfly species have gone extinct since 1950, with 29 listed as endangered.
Recorded sources for this group: IUCN Red List, Xerces Society, USFWS, PNAS, WWF. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Green Broomweed Looper - Hodges#6420 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by anitagould , Mike Quinn , Maury Heiman , David Ferguson , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Green Broomweed Looper - Hodges#6420
What is Green Broomweed Looper - Hodges#6420?
Green Broomweed Looper - Hodges#6420 (Narraga fimetaria) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Green Broomweed Looper - Hodges#6420?
Grote & Robinson (1870) listed the wingspan 12-24 mm. ( 3 ) Powell & Opler (2009) listed the forewing length 8-10 mm. ( 4 )
How do you identify Green Broomweed Looper - Hodges#6420?
Grote & Robinson (1870) original description as Fidonia fimetaria is available online. ( 3 ) Adults are often mistaken for butterflies because they visit flowers during the day and hold their wings vertically over their back, displaying the brightly-patterned underside of the hindwing; the feathery antennae distinguishes them from butterflies. Upperside of wings light to medium brown with pale yellowish patches along the costa of forewing; fringe checkered dark brown and white. Specimen determined by DNA analysis (BOLD). ( 5 )
Where is Green Broomweed Looper - Hodges#6420 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Dry shrublands, sparsely-vegetated sandy areas. |
| Range | Texas and Oklahoma to California, strays north to southern Alberta and Saskatchewan - Map ( 6 ) , Quite common in south and southwest Texas. ( 7 ) |
What does Green Broomweed Looper - Hodges#6420 eat?
The diet of the Green Broomweed Looper - Hodges#6420 includes Prairie broomweed ( Amphiachyris dracunculoides ) has been recorded as a host in Texas. McFarland found them on threadleaf snakeweed ( Gutierrezia microcephala ) in the Mojave Desert. ( 4 ).
When is Green Broomweed Looper - Hodges#6420 active?
Green Broomweed Looper - Hodges#6420: seasonal activity - Adults fly from May to August in the north, or as early as March in the south..
What is the life cycle of a Green Broomweed Looper - Hodges#6420?
One or two generations per year. Eggs laid in ropelike rows. ( 4 )